CNN Primetime Outpaced Fox 25-54 During February

CNN dominated cable news in February, ranking #1 in primetime with a +17% advantage over second place Fox News among adults 25-54.

Also this month, CNN posted its highest primetime ratings in both total viewers and the demo 25-54 since November 2008. CNN was the fastest growing network in all of cable this month in M-Su primetime, in both total viewers and the demo, growing triple digits from a year ago. CNN also handily topped MSNBC primetime in total viewers and doubled MSNBC ratings among adults 25-54 this month. CNN has now topped MSNBC in primetime in total viewers for the third consecutive month and for 20 months in the demo. In Total Day, CNN ranked #2 in cable news in both total viewers and adults 25-54, outperforming MSNBC for the 20th straight month in both demos.

February Programming:

Primetime:
• CNN beat MSNBC during M-F primetime hours at 7pm, 8pm and 10pm among adults 25-54 for the 20th straight month, the longest streak in nearly 16 years (since April 2000).
• Erin Burnett Outfront (7pm) ranked #2 in the demo (236k), topping MSNBC’s Hardball (180k) by +31%. EBOF was up +32% vs. a year ago in total viewers and +17% in the demo 25-54.
• Anderson Cooper 360 ranked #2 in both total viewers (1.077m) and the demo (301k) easily topping MSNBC’s Chris Hayes (842k/193k). AC 360 was the highest-rated CNN primetime news program. AC 360 grew +69% in total viewers and +49% in the demo compared to last year. CNN has now topped MSNBC in total viewers for the fifth straight month and in the demo for the 20th consecutive month at 8p.
• CNN Tonight with Don Lemon ranked #2 in the demo (228k), topping MSNBC (206k). CNN has now beaten MSNBC at 10pm for the 20th straight month in the important key demo 25-54. The Lemon-led program was up +45% in total viewers and +30% among 25-54 vs. last year.

Town Halls:
• CNN produced two GOP Town Halls this month, with each one ranking #1 in cable news in their time periods in total viewers and among adults 25-54 and 18-34. The network also had two Democratic Town Halls in February, with the first one ranking #1 in total viewers, adults 25-54 and 18-34 and the one after that, #1 among adults 25-54 and 18-34 among cable news in their time periods.

Debates:
• A combined 8.05 million watched the PBS NewsHour Democratic Primary that was also simulcast on CNN. Among adults 25-54, 2.3 million watched. This was the first time that two networks teamed up to simulcast a debate. The simulcast ranked #1 in cable news in its time period among both demos. (Live+SD)
• A combined 14.3 million watched the CNN/Telemundo Republican Debate. Among adults 25-54, 4.6 million watched. This was the highest ranking primary debate of 2016 among both demos. CNN’s Texas debated ranked #1 in cable news in its time period. (Live+SD)